Saturday 26 December 2020

Following passage of a cold front that froze the southern US and brought stormy weather to the east coast, south Florida shuddered this morning into the lower digits C (thirties F) before a forecast slow warm-up next week back to more normal temps. Holy guacamole Senor Batman this ain't right. We don't do cold. Got to get fixed and do more southing.

Revelers, no doubt warmed by camaraderie and a snoot full of holiday spirits, came around at 0530 to loudly manifest their joy of the season for the dock's several inhabitants. Jan, intimating her delight at being awakened from a blissful rest, suggested they check their watches and enhance the lives of more, different sleeping people (this may be a slight reframing of events). Their surprise that anyone might not have remained up all night was followed by a civil acquiescence and we returned to our dreams until 0800.

Captain, a prince among men, displaying splendid benevolence, risked severe hypothermia this morning to tunnel from under doona and start generator to power aft reverse cycle air conditioner and water heater so Princess (AKA Admiral) could stay warm and shower. What a magnificent human being he must be. And adorable. Foregoing was an announcement in the public interest, completely objective and in no way self-serving. Just thought everyone should know.

Sidney to Hobart race, run continuously on Boxing Day for past seventy five years, was called off due covid. Cancellation, having nothing to do with sailboat racing, was because participants would be quarantined for several days in Tasmania and couldn't party. Aussies maintain their priorities.

Celebrated Christmas night at the terribly named Hullabaloo restaurant that had two specials for dinner: prime rib for the resident carnivore and scallop & prawn fettucine for me - two of the best meals we've had in awhile. So pleased were we with the food decided, against better judgment, to share an excellent banana bread pudding for dessert. Subsequently waddled home and listened to Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas album while drinking rum laced eggnog and reflecting on how good life can be perceived even in the midst of adversity. Hope everyone had as agreeable a Christmas as us and experiences a reality that matches the rising expectations of the coming several months.

Jack & Jan